In May and June 2015, Caoimhe Finn (CNM3 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)) travelled to Liberia in West Africa for two week-long trips as an IPC Nurse for a post Ebola outbreak project. The aim of the project was to conduct an analysis of the current IPC practices and provide education and training where required.

The lack of resources that we may take for granted, such as running water in our hospitals and effective waste management, require practical solutions in Liberia, such as buckets with taps for hand hygiene chlorine solutions and adapted waste incineration drums. Implementing IPC measures requires commitment from an already stretched healthcare staff but this commitment was evident.

The project focused on three hospitals in Monrovia. Caoimhe involvement was supported by the HSE Global Health Programme and ESTHER France (now called Expertise France). The ESTHER Alliance, of which Ireland is a member, is a European initiative that involves twinning with hospitals in developing countries, to assist and facilitate healthcare staff to share their skills and experience. Caoimhe would like to thank the staff Beaumont Hospital for all the support and advice received.

Caoimhe is pictured with John A Shakpeh, Assistant Nursing Director at one of the Hospitals participating in the Esther Alliance